Press Releases

2014 Library of Rhode Island Grants Announced

Providence, RI—Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) announced today that $202,000 in Library of Rhode Island (LORI) grants have been awarded.

"Libraries continue to play a vital role in our neighborhoods throughout the state," Governor Chafee said. "I am pleased that the grants will ensure that these institutions can advance their good work and improve services to Rhode Islanders."

The Office of Library and Information Services funds the Library of Rhode Island grant program with federal dollars that it receives from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. The grant program was open to public, academic, and school libraries and library consortia which are members of the Library of Rhode Island network.

"Rhode Island has a long history of supporting public library services through its State Library Aid program," said Richard Licht, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration. "This additional grant program supports collaboration among all types of libraries and other community organizations."

"The Library of Rhode Island grant program enables the State of Rhode Island to support innovative projects and statewide initiatives that enable our libraries to advance library services for everyone," Karen Mellor, acting Chief of Library Services at the Office of Library and Information Services, said.

The grants went to the following libraries and consortia:

-Davisville Free Library in North Kingstown will provide story hours for pre-school children and their caregivers at Kingstown Crossings, a Crossroads RI family housing facility. Caregivers will be introduced to pre-literacy skills and librarians will help foster a passion for reading that is important for future success.

-The Rhode Island Family Literacy initiative at Providence Public Library will build a digital literacy curriculum to help adults with limited English proficiency learn computer skills at the Providence Public Library and the Cranston Public Library.

-The Newport Public Library, in partnership with the Middletown Public Library, the Portsmouth Free Public Library and FabNewport, will create innovation studios in all three libraries on Aquidneck Island. The studios will be outfitted with digital fabrication tools that enable youth to explore digital design technologies to create designs that can then be manufactured into three-dimensional objects.

-The Archie R. Cole Middle School in East Greenwich will have students create book trailers (short promotional videos) that connect fiction and non-fiction books. The project blends skills for reading with 21st century technology skills and goals identified in the Common Core Curriculum.

-The Redwood Library and Athenaeum, an independent library in Newport, will improve access to its unique collections of printed materials on colonial furniture, art, architecture, and interior decoration by adding electronic records of these collections to its online catalog.

-The Central Falls Public Library will collaborate with the Central Falls School Department, VSA Arts RI, and the University of RI Harrington School of Communications and Media to design a media education lab and implement a summer camp for 8th grade students that teaches digital literacy and 21st century communication skills through video production.

-Providence Public Library will work with the Brown University Center for Public Humanities, Providence Preservation Society, the RI Historical Society and the Providence Youth Center to create a Teen Tech Squad. This project will engage Providence youth in the digital humanities, enabling them to explore and document neighborhood histories by creating electronic exhibits.

-HELIN, a the consortium of academic and health sciences libraries, will develop a statewide digital collection of information resources and cultural heritage artifacts that will become an online educational resource for all Rhode Islanders.

-RILINK, the consortium of school libraries, will replace its server, which will enable the consortium to serve more school libraries and improve the functionality of its library catalog.

For more information on OLIS contact: Karen Mellor, 401-574-9304 or karen.mellor@olis.ri.gov.

The Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), an office within the Department of Administration, is the state library agency for Rhode Island. OLIS supports and strengthens library and information services in the state to ensure that all residents will benefit from free and convenient access to library and information resources and services. The Library of Rhode Island (LORI) is the Rhode Island library network, a virtual library consisting of the collected resources and services available from all Rhode Island libraries. To learn more, visit www.olis.ri.gov.

The Library of Rhode Island (LORI) Grant Program is administered by OLIS to support projects that advance the ability of Rhode Island libraries to engage in innovative programs and services and statewide initiatives. The grants have the benefit of building the capacity of libraries and strengthening library collaboration across libraries and through partnerships between libraries and other organizations.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. IMLS grant making, policy development and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.